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COMHAIRLE CHONTAE NA GAILLIMHE Ceantar Bardasach Chonamara Municipal District of Conamara Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Conamara held at the Petersburg Outdoor Center, Clonbur, County Galway on the 26th April 2016 @ 2.00 p.m I LATHAIR: Baill: Cllrs. E. Mannion Cathaoirleach, S. Walsh, S. Ó Tuairisg, N. Thomas, S. Ó Cualáin, T Ó Cuarraoin, T. Healy, Oifigigh: L.Gavin , Director of Services J. Leahy, Senior Engineer Roads P. Breathnach, S.E.E Conamara J. Coyle, Area Engineer, S. Conamara T. J Redmond Area Engineer, N. Conamara S. Groarke, Meetings Administrator K. Lydon, Technician Grade 1 C. Joyce, Executive Engineer. Apologies: M. Mullarkey, Head of Finance. Cllr. T. Welby Cllr. N. Byrne 1. Minutes of the Meeting held on the 12-2-2016 CMD 16010 On the proposal of Cllr. S. O’Tuairisg and seconded by Cllr. N. Thomas, the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 12th February 2016 were adopted. 2. Matters arising from the Minutes CMD 16011 Cllr. E. Mannion requested a correction to the last sentence of the first paragraph of page 5 of the Minutes with the omission of the word “School “. The sentence should read “reports that Citylink were withdrawing Bus services due to the condition of the roads. “ 3. Severe Weather Alocation 2016 –Schedule of Works. CMD 16012 J. Leahy presented Schedule of Works for North and South Conamara amounting to €517,835 and associated maps outlining the proposed repairs to 21 Regional and Local roads in Conamara which had sustained damage as a result of the stormy weather between November 1 2015 and January 2016. The damage was due mainly to flooding, blockage of culverts, scour damage and part of roads being washed away. He advised that the Council had made an initial claim for storm damage to the Department of Transport which amounted to €8.5million and has received €6 million. He advised that most of the storm damage affected the southern part of the County from Loughrea to Gort. The initial allocation received for Conamara was €500,000. He stated that another application was been prepared and would be sent to the Department by the end of April. The Council will prepare another Schedule of Works for Conamara and a Schedule of Bridge repairs at a later date. The works associated with the claims for storm damage would form part of the 2016 Roads Program which will have to be completed by October and the funding drawn down by November. Cllr. Mannion stated that a lot of storm damage was caused to the N59 between Clifden and Cleggan and enquired about funding for the repairs. J. Leahy advised that the Council made a separate application to T.I.I (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) in regard to the N59 –but had not received a response to date. He stated that the Council was also awaiting a response from the Department of the Environment in regard to the claim for storm damage sent in November 2015. Cllr. Thomas enquired as to whether the Homefarm road would be repaired. J. Leahy advised that claims for damage to the Cloonliffe (Homefarm ) and Eanach roads would be included in the second application. Comh. O’Tuairisg enquired about funding for storm damage to the Aran Islands including Inis Meain. He also referred to the road adjacent to Siop an Phobail and Coláiste Lurgan, Inverin. L. Gavin advised that most of the damage to the Aran Islands comes under the heading of Coastal damage and this is a matter for the OPW. He stated that Uinsinn Finn, S.E.E was dealing with non-coastal minor works including drainage and these should be referred to him. Comh. O’Cualáin referred to the flood damage to the Gowla and Cashel roads and stated that funding was required for the damage to the bridge at Lettermullen Camus. P. Breathnach advised that this was included in the application and that there was similar damage to other bridges in Conamara which would need to be surveyed. Comh. O’Cualáin referred to the clearing of streams vital to alleviate flooding and enquired as to whether Uinsinn Finn or the OPW was the point of contact. P. Breathnach advised him to contact Uinsinn Finn. L. Gavin requested the Councillors to notify the engineers of any concerns they have as regards bridges in Conamara. Comh. O Tuairisg referred to streams that were blocked by fallen tree branches and L. Gavin advised that this was a matter for the landowner if located on private property. Cllr. Healy complimented the Area Engineer on the work done in Streamstown and Inisnee. Cllr. Mannion thanked J. Leahy for the presentation and she anticipated that further funding would accrue to the Council as a result of the new application. 4. Letterfrack Village Road Safety CMD 16013 L. Gavin advised that he contacted TII in regard to a road safety scheme for Letterfrack. It requested the Council to provide a feasibility report in regard to this- outlining the need for the scheme and the safety crossing and criteria associated with traffic and pedestrian numbers. He advised that T.J Redmond would undertake a traffic count within the next 2 weeks. This will be included in the feasibility report. He stated that ducting was installed when the Council previously undertook works on the road. Comh. O’Tuairisg advised that the community had sought the implementation of safety measures for years and Cllr. Healy advised that the parents of the primary school children had raised this during the election. Cllr. Mannion also requested L. Gavin to assess the situation as regards improving the footpaths in Letterfrack. 2 5. Stage 3- Ceibh an Chaladh Mhóir-Inis Meain CMD 16014 Comh. O’Tuairish advised that a delegation from Inis Meáin had met Joe McHugh the Minister for the Gaeltacht in regard to the completion of the Harbour at Inis Meáin. There was also a meeting arranged by Derek Nolan TD on the 20-1-2016 with Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure who it appears was not prepared to sanction funding for An Caladh Mhóir as it did not have planning permission and would contact the Council in regard to this. L. Gavin advised that decisions regarding Piers and Harbours were traditionally a matter for the Minister for the Gaeltacht and there is now an element of confusion as regards responsibility. He stated that Inis Meáin and Inishere harbours were co-joined in 2006/2007 but in the Capital Program announced by the Government in 2015 funding of €8 million was announced for the harbour at Inishere –but there was no mention of the harbour at Inis Meáin and the Council has not received any contact from any Government Department in regard to this. Comh. O’Tuairisg enquired if there was any issues to be sorted in regard to the pier at Inishere and was advised by L. Gavin the planning permission has been in place for years but the level of local funding from the Council has to be clarified. He stated that funding for the pier at Inishere appears to be part of the Dept of the Environment’s Capital Program. In regard to the harbour at Inis Meáin he advised that the Council requires clarification from the Department of the Environment as to the status of the scheme. Comh. O’Tuairish suggested that a motion passed at the next Council meeting may be necessary. It was proposed by Comh. O’Tuairisg, seconded by Comh. O’Curraoin and agreed “ that the Municipal District of Conamara request Galway County Council to pass a motion requesting the Minister of the Environment to expedite the development of Phase 3 of the Caladh Mór Harbour on Inis Meáin “ 6. Update on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Derrygimlagh Project CMD 16015 The presentation on the Wild Atlantic Way was given by Cathal Joyce E.E He stated that the Wild Atlantic Way is a major tourism initiative for the western seaboard. It is in essence a long-distance coastal touring route from Donegal to West Cork (Kinsale) with a total length of up to 2,500km showcasing Ireland’s coastline and traditional culture and heritage. It has been developed by Fáilte Ireland as an “experience brand” to present the West Coast of Ireland as a tourism product of scale and singularity to gain cut through in a very cluttered international marketplace and simultaneously to give the tourism industry in the West of Ireland an overarching “umbrella” brand under which to mobilise and develop compelling visitor experiences. The Programme of works with photo-friendly marker points and interpretation panels will improve visitor experiences all along the route of the WAW Galway, with the intention of bringing each site in Galway to life and encouraging visitor engagement, it is planned to have photo-friendly marker points and interpretation panels - explaining the significance of each point - installed at each of the Wild Atlantic Way’s Discovery Points as out lined below. The location of Discovery Points in Co. Galway will include the following: • Killary Harbour • Islands View • Cleggan Harbour • Inishbofin 3 • Omey Island • Sky Road • Derrigimlagh • Bunowen Bay • Port na Feadóige • Glinsk • Teach an Phiarsaigh • Droichead Charraig an Logáin • Trá an Dóilín • Calafort Ros an Mhíl • Inis Oírr seaport • Inis Oírr airport • Inis Meáin seaport • Inis Meáin airport • Inis Mór seaport • Inis Mór airport • Céibh Bhaile na hAbhann • Aerfort Réigiúnach Chonamara • Seanchéibh an Spidéil • Trá na gCeann • Salthill Promenade • Rinville Park • Traught Beach Fáilte Ireland has been working with Galway County Council, to complete this crucial upgrade of the Wild Atlantic Way’s designated Discovery Points.

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